‘Mughal-e-Azam’ musical to be staged in Dubai

When in love, why fear? This is likely to be the credo behind the Broadway-style Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical, a spectacular production about a doomed couple to be staged at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre from May 4 to 7.

The celebrated 16th century tale about the tragic love affair between India’s Mughal ruler Crown Prince Salim and the beautiful, ill-fated court dancer Anarkali will be brought to life in a musical format.

Director Feroz Abbas Khan spearheads the musical, with Mughal-era costumes designed by Manish Malhotra and choreography led by Mayuri Upadhya.

“I had always wanted to share this great piece of cinema as a theatrical experience. The epic love story of Prince Salim and Anarkali has been told beautifully on celluloid. I have attempted to create a contemporary version of it for live audiences. I am humbled by the appreciation from audiences across India. I am excited as we present Mughal-e-Azam on a global platform,” said Khan in a statement.

The story of Mughal-e-Azam has seen several film adaptations. However, the most revered one is director K Asif’s 1960 film starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubala in the lead.

The doomed romance has all the elements that will see this musical production transform into a soul-stirring spectacle. Tickets for the show range from Dh250 to Dh1,250 and are available online at www.ductac.etixdubai.com.